Moments after Sandhills/Thedford captured the 2013 Sandhills Conference Volleyball title, Marten proved that she still had some energy left in her tank as she bounded up the large carpet steps in Sandhills High School gym into the waiting arms of her parents Adam and Lisa.

It was a long time coming.

Sandhills/Thedford had come so close in Saturday tournaments all season. This time, something finally gave.

"It feels amazing," Marten said. "We played so well together. This is probably the best we've played together and we finally came together as a team and it got it accomplished. It's a great feeling."

Marten, along with fellow seniors Sarah Miles, Jacy Spencer and Leah Pickering nabbed the Sandhills/Thedford crown in their final opportunity.

Kelsey Higgins and Avery Taylor powered the offense with 16 kills each while Spencer had seven and Rebecca Higgins chipped in five. Spencer also had her serve working well with five of the team's nine serving aces and recorded three blocks.

Taylor led the team in blocks with seven while Marten dished out 40 assists before the end of the night. She, along with Miles also finished with a team-high 11 digs to go with nine from Shaina Simonson and Spencer while Higgins chipped in six.

Consistency is something that has been preached all season, but there was another big factor that played into the Knights hoisting the plaque.

" A lot of it was heart tonight," Sandhills/Thedford coach Shawn Harvey said. "These girls never quit tonight. They got down, they came back. The last three sets they did what they needed to do. Brady is a tough team."

Sandhills/Thedford and the Eagles will meet again Tuesday night in a triangular along with Ansley-Litchfield in Dunning to wrap up the regular season.